Linear Thinking Riddle

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There are four people in a house. A fireman, an athlete, an old woman, and a drunk guy. The house catches fire and before the fact is known, it is too late. All they know is that the entire house is in flames and it will collapse exactly after twelve minutes. Now they can move out of the house but for that, they will have to pass the hallway which is entirely blazing with flames. Thus to move, one must carry a fire extinguisher to keep the flames away. Seeking the burnt wooden floor, only two people can run through that hallway at one time. But for others to go, one must return back with the fire extinguisher. The fireman is trained for such tasks and can run through the hallway in a minute. The athlete can make it in a couple of minutes. The old woman can run slowly and will cover the hallway in four minutes. The drunk guy will take five minutes to run through it. If all of them can make it through the hallway in twelve minutes, all of them will be saved. When two move together, they will run at the speed of the slower ones.

How will all four of them manage to run to safety?

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  • 1 Answer(s)

    Step 1. The fireman and athlete goes across the hall together. They reach the other end in 2 min. (at the speed of the athlete who is slower of the two.)
    Step 2: The fireman leaves the athlete at the other end and returns in 1 Min. (His max speed, as he is alone now.)
    Step 3: The fireman sends the old lady and drunk guy together. They get across in 5 min. (speed of the drunk fellow)
    Step 4: The athlete who is at the other end comes back and reaches the fireman in 2 min.
    Step 5: The fireman and the athlete once again gets across, again in 2 min. , as they did in step 1.

    Total Time taken: 2 + 1 + 5 + 2 + 2 = 12 min. The building collapses, but all the occupants have managed to get out SAFE.

    Viji_Pinarayi Expert Answered on 30th March 2022.
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